Shoshone County Flood Control Project records

Shoshone County Flood Control Project records, 1933-1940

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Marsh, Harry Webb, 1886-1964; Shoshone County Flood Control Project
Title: Shoshone County Flood Control Project records
Dates: 1933-1940 (inclusive)
19331940
Quantity: 1 linear feet
Collection Number: Mg 140
Summary: Correspondence, financial accounts, maps, and plans of Idaho Emergency Relief Administration District #5 Administrator Harry Marsh's application for Works Projects Administration funds.
Repository: University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives
University of Idaho Library
875 Perimeter Drive
MS 2350
Moscow, ID
83844-2350
Telephone: 2088850845
libspec@uidaho.edu
Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.
Languages: English
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The first serious recorded flooding of the Coeur d'Alene River area occurred in 1894, establishing a lake elevation of 2137.5 feet above sea level; the normal elevation for Coeur d'Alene Lake is 2126.5. On May 18, 1917, spring floods again reached the 1894 level, suspending rail and highway transportation for several days. On December 18 of that same year the flood waters reached the same level, causing thousands of dollars in property damage.

The floods of 1933 were by far the worst. Three days of torrential rains in early June sent the Coeur d'Alene River and its tributaries over their banks. Then on December 21 a sudden thaw accompanied by heavy rains caused landslides and flooding. Coeur d'Alene Lake reached an all time high level of 2139.5 feet above sea level--two feet higher than the record levels of 1894 and 1917. The South Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River and Placer Creek went over their banks inundating the eastern and western sections of Wallace; then on December 22 Nine Mile Creek overflowed its banks, adding to the already extensive destruction. On December 23 the storm stopped, the weather turned cold and by the 26th the rivers were back in their banks, leaving behind nearly one million dollars worth of property damage in Wallace alone. It was estimated that property damage in Shoshone County reached three and a half million dollars. March 27-29, 1934 saw more heavy rains and consequently more flooding. Mullan, Wallace, and Kellogg sustained approximately $100,000 damage in the April 18, 1938 flood.

Harry Marsh, who directed the clean-up operations after the December 1933 flood, was the driving force behind the flood control project which is the subject of this archival group.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The papers of the Shoshone County Flood Control Project are contained in one small file box and are not very extensive. By far the largest percentage of material is the correspondence of Harry Marsh, District #5 administrator of the Idaho Emergency Relief Administration, concerning the application for federal appropriations to finance a flood control project. Other material includes maps showing locations of flood control devices, newspapers from December 1933 and January 1934 with accounts of the flooding in Wallace and Kellogg, and newspaper clippings concerning the flood control project. The photograph file contains many mounted photographs of the 1933 flooding of Wallace and Kellogg.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Description of Item], Shoshone County Flood Control Project records, MG 140, Special Collections and Archives, University of Idaho Library, Moscow, Idaho.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The series and folders in this collection are arranged in alphabetical order, except the Photographs series. This series is contained in box 2, and it's folders are in alphabetical order as well.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Correspondence, 1934; 1939-1940Return to Top

Abstract: This series is composed of the correspondence of Harry Marsh, District Administrator of District #5 of the Idaho Emergency Relief Administration, and concerns his 1935 application to the War Department for federal W.P.A. funds to implement a flood control project in Shoshone County. After being favorably acted upon at the local and regional levels, the application was denied at the national level due to lack of funds. In November 1934 a transient camp was established near Wallace and men from this camp began work on the project.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	1	January to December	January 12, 1934 - December 22, 1935
1	2	November to September	November 8, 1939 - September 16, 1941

Maps and PlansReturn to Top

Abstract: Included in this series are a 1929 map of Spokane, a plan for timber cribbing in Kellogg, the flood control plan for Mullan, the Sunshine Mine flood and erosion control map, and a 1938 map of the area of Wallace in the vicinity of the mouth of Placer Creek.

Container(s)		Description
Box	Folder
1	3	Blueprints
1	4	Maps

Newspaper ArticlesReturn to Top

Abstract: This series consists of nine pages of mounted clippings and eight complete newspapers. The clippings, taken from Coeur d'Alene, Spokane, and Wallace newspapers, deal with the flood control project and the WPA. The Wallace Press-Times newspapers contain accounts of the flooding and include the following dates: June 9, 1933; December 21, 22, 23, 26, 1933; January 19, 1934; and March 29, 30, 1934.

Container(s)		Description
Box	Folder
1	5	Clippings
1	6	Newspapers

Works Progress Administration, 1935-1940Return to Top

Abstract: Among the items in this series are an outline of the flood control project dated August 2, 1935 and two applications to the Works Progress Administration dated November 12, 1935 and November 18, 1939. There are also sketchy statements of the amount of money expended for the repair of the 1933 flood damage by the counties and the federal government.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	7	Financial Accounts and Proposals	1935-1940

PhotographsReturn to Top

This series contains sub-series that are in alphabetical order. Some of the items within the folders had previous identification tags and descriptions, which were used as object descriptions.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		Civilian Conservation Corps
Box	Folder
2	8	Camp buildings [CCC?] at 36° below 6 prints.	January 19, 1937
		CCC Camps and Personnel
Box	Folder
2	9	CCC Camp F-15; Breakwater	1933
2	9	CCC Camp F-16; Fall Creek	August 15, 1933
2	9	CCC Camp F-27; Eagle (1)	August 15, 1933
2	9	CCC Camp F-27; Eagle (2)	August 15, 1933
2	9	CCC Camp F-27; Eagle
2	9	CCC Camp F-28; Delta	August 15, 1933
2	9	CCC Camp F-29; Grizzly	August 15, 1933
2	9	CCC Camp F-30; Harry Marsh-Big Creek	August 15, 1933
2	9	Women standing under sign that reads Camp Harry March (Camp F-30) 967th Co., C.C.C.	undated
2	9	View of CCC Camp F-30 Harry Marsh	undated
2	9	CCC workers building bunk house	undated
2	9	Unidentified CCC personnel	undated
2	9	Row of CCC camp tents and personnel	undated
2	9	Unidentified CCC baseball team	undated
2	9	Unidentified CCC personnel including the camp cook	undated
2	9	Two unidentified CCC personnel	undated
2	9	Three unidentified CCC personnel outside tent	undated
2	9	Group of unidentified CCC personnel	undated
2	9	One CCC personnel standing outside tent	undated
2	9	Rocks displayed to read F 15 (for CCC Camp F-15 Breakwater)	undated
2	9	Row of tents in CCC camp	undated
2	9	Unidentified man in front of US CCC 31572 vehicle	undated
2	9	Personnel outside rows of CCC tents	undated
2	9	Reservoir at CCC Camp	undated
2	9	Two unidentified CCC personnel	undated
2	9	Forest Service CCC Camp F-27	undated
2	9	CCC Camp F-28	undated
2	9	Group of unidentified CCC personnel	undated
2	9	Mess Hall at unidentified CCC camp and people sitting in outdoor eating area	undated
2	9	Unidentified CCC personnel and families standing outside office and supply room	undated
2	9	People outside tents	undated
2	9	Group of unidentified women and young girls	undated
2	9	Crowd of CCC personnel	undated
2	9	CCC personnel sitting at benches and picnic tables	undated
2	9	Unidentified CCC personnel waiting outside Recreation Room	undated
2	9	Unidentified CCC personnel and camp cook	undated
2	9	CCC personnel and families standing outside Recreation Room	undated
2	9	CCC baseball team	undated
2	9	Row of CCC cabins A, B, C, D, and Mess Hall	undated
2	9	CCC personnel and families sitting at picnic tables	undated
2	9	Unidentified family visiting CCC camp	undated
2	9	CCC personnel and families lined up	undated
2	9	CCC personnel and families lined up	undated
2	9	CCC camp visitors enjoying a drink	undated
2	9	CCC camp visitors enjoying a drink outside cabin B	undated
2	9	Unidentified CCC personnel	undated
2	9	CCC personnel building a structure	undated
2	9	Distant view of CCC personnel building a structure	undated
2	9	Lumber and half finished structures at CCC camp	undated
2	9	CCC personnel building a structure	undated
2	9	CCC personnel lined up	undated
2	9	CCC camp cooks	undated
2	9	Unidentified CCC personnel	undated
2	9	Two unidentified CCC personnel	undated
2	9	Large group photo of CCC personnel	undated
2	9	Group photo of CCC personnel	undated
2	9	Group photo of CCC personnel	undated
2	9	Large group photo of CCC personnel	undated
2	9	Large group photo of CCC personnel	undated
2	9	Four unidentified CCC personnel	undated
2	9	CCC personnel sitting in Mess Hall	undated
2	9	Group photo of CCC personnel	undated
2	9	Group photo of CCC personnel on truck	undated
2	9	Unidentified CCC personnel	undated
2	9	Forest road going in two directions	undated
		Kellogg, ID	1933
Box	Folder
2	10	Kellogg, Idaho Flood	1933
		Miscellaneous
Box	Folder
2	11	Helca Mine, Burke, ID	undated
2	12	Homes 12 photos of damaged homes.
2	13	Logging 16 photos of logging, loggers, and equipment.	undated
		Lookout Pass	1933
Box	Folder
2	14	Man standing under Lookout Pass sign leaving Montana and entering Idaho	undated
2	14	Snow on Lookout Pass as high as a car	May 12, 1933
2	14	Snow higher than a car at the Lookout Pass entrance to Cabinet National Forest, Montana	undated
Box	Folder
2	15	Postcards Various postcards of picturing Idaho. Some sent by Harry Marsh.
2	16	Potato Crop Field	1933
2	17	Unidentified Flood Damage
2	18	Winter Scenes 12 photos of various winter scenes.	1939
		Pine Creek Flood Project	1936
Box	Folder
2	19	Pine Creek channel change (2 photos)	undated
2	19	Embankment showing need of soil conservation (2 photos)	undated
2	19	Before dike improvement	undated
2	19	Protection dike	May 12, 1936
2	19	Before placing wire mat	undated
2	19	Building dikes with bulldozer	undated
2	19	Two men standing beside excavator and river after flood	undated
2	19	Excavator making flood dredge	undated
2	19	Home along flooded river	undated
2	19	River and debris after flooding with home in distance	May 12, 1936
2	19	Riverbed after flooding	undated
2	19	Riverbed wiring for embankments	December 1936
2	19	Unidentified CCC camp	undated
2	19	Group of men working along riverbank in winter	undated
2	19	River and surrounding area after major flooding	undated
2	19	Embankment to prevent flooding	undated
2	19	Wire river bank during winter	undated
2	19	Riverbed after major flooding	undated
2	19	River after major flooding	undated
2	19	Riverbed and debris after flooding	undated
2	19	Riverbed after flooding	undated
2	19	River after flooding	undated
2	19	River after flooding	undated
2	19	River with excavated banks and homes in background	undated
2	19	River along railroad tracks after flooding	undated
2	19	Bridge over previously flooded river	October 1936
2	19	River scene with excavator and buildings in background	September 1936
2	19	Unidentified CCC camp	undated
2	19	Two negatives	undated
		Project No. 65-92-1179	April 4, 1936
Box	Folder
2	20	Channel excavation	April 4, 1936
2	20	Channel excavation with drag line dike	April 4, 1936
2	20	Flood relief camp	April 4, 1936
2	20	Flood relief camp	April 4, 1936
2	20	Negatives (2)	April 4, 1936
		Spokane River, Coeur D'Alene Lake to Post Falls	July 13, 1935
Box	Folder
2	21	North channel at Post Falls, regulating gote. Post Falls Mill looking down stream	July 13, 1935
2	21	Point on north shore to be dredged, looking downstream	July 13, 1935
2	21	Point on north shore to be dredged, looking upstream	July 13, 1935
2	21	Point on south shore to be dredged, looking upstream; Ohio Match Mills	July 13, 1935
2	21	Middle channel at Post Falls, looking downstream	July 13, 1935
2	21	Head of Spokane River to be dredged, looking downstream	July 13, 1935
2	21	Snags and point to be dredged on south shore, looking downstream	July 13, 1935
2	21	Point on south shore to be dredged, looking downstream; Ohio Match Mills	July 13, 1935
2	21	Channel opening on south shore, looking downstream	July 13, 1935
2	21	South channel at Post Falls. Weir and sluice gote, looking downstream	July 13, 1935
2	21	Point to be dredged on south side below the Atlas Tie Company, looking upstream	July 13, 1935
2	21	R. R. Bridge at Winton Mills, looking downstream Negative print only.	July 13, 1935
		St. Joe River Valley, Kootenai Valley, Spokane River	May 6-9, 1935
Box	Folder
2	22	St. Joe River between the trees.	May 9, 1935
2	22	Bridge	May 6, 1935
2	22	St. Joe River Valley	May 9, 1935
2	22	Men working on a bridge	May 8, 1935
2	22	McLaughlin, District Engineer, and Cromwell, County Engineer at a dike	May 9, 1935
2	22	Spokane River	May 6, 1935
2	22	Kootenai Valley	May 8, 1935
2	22	St. Joe River with dike area underwater. Broken dike in foreground	May 9, 1935
		Wallace, Idaho
Box	Folder
2	23	1910 Fire	August 20, 1910
2		Flood Project	January to March, 1934
Box	Folder
2	24	Home on Placer Creek in Wallace, ID Description on back reads: Home on Place Creek in Wallace. Christmas Day - 3' of mud and erosion on the floors. Cellar's full of mud. No fires. No sewers.	January 07, 1934
2	24	Placer Creek erosion two miles south of Wallace, ID Description on back reads: Placer Creek Erosion - 2 miles south of Wallace. 12-15' debris over highway.	January 23, 1934
2	24	Stream bed Description on photo reads: Stream bed December 25, 1933, photo 1/15/34. Wall 8' above normal water.	January 15, 1934
2	24	Donohoe yard after flooding Description on photo reads: Donohoe yard. Mucking into stream so drag line excavator can pick it up.	January 15, 1934
2	24	English Home, Placer Creek Description on photo reads: English home, Place Creek. Showing dike to cut water back into regular channel. Red cross will rehabilitate.	January 15, 1934
2	24	Duncan Home, Wallace, ID Description on photo reads: Duncan Home, Wallace. Red cross will rehabilitate.	January 15, 1934
2	24	CRAB attachment	January 23, 1934
2	24	CRAB attachment	January 24, 1934
2	24	Driftwood on the North Fork of the Coeur D'Alene River	February 3, 1934
2	24	Home damaged by floods, North Fork of the Coeur D'Alene River	February 3, 1934
2	24	Home damaged by flooding	January 12, 1934
2	24	Unidentified farm with flood damage	February 3, 1934
2	24	Excavator pulling debris out of water	January 23, 1934
2	24	Man beside trucks along river after flooding	January 23, 1934
2	24	Excavator cleaning out debris after flooding	April 04, 1934
2	24	Riverbed after major flooding	April 04, 1934
2	24	Debris along river after flooding	February 03, 1934
2	24	Neighborhood after a flood	March 14, 1934
2	24	Side streets of unknown town	March 14, 1934
2	24	Excavator cleaning debris out of flooded river	April 04, 1934
2	24	Debris covering machinery along the North Fork of the Coeur D'Alene River	February 03, 1934
2	24	Damage to farm after flooding	February 03, 1934
2	24	Excavator removing debris from river water	January 23, 1934
2	24	Road remade after flood damage	January 23, 1934
2	24	Wilson Pool Hall and Beer Parlor damaged after major flooding	January 09, 1934
2	24	Snow along flood dredge	January 07, 1934
2	24	Riverbed during flooding and dredging	January 23, 1934
2	24	Riverbed after flood damage	January 23, 1934
2	24	Placer Creek one mile south of Wallace, showing erosion	January 23, 1934
2	24	Excavator making a dredge to combat flooding	January 23, 1934
	Folder
2	25	Streets 9 photos of streets in Wallace, ID including Bank Street.	undated
		Winter Flood	1933
Box	Folder
2	26	Printer Creek	December 23, 1933
2	26	Flood 9 photos.	December 1933
2	26	Nine Mile Creek	1933
2	26	Flood 2 photos.	1933
2	26	Damaged road	1933
2	26	Placer Creek	1933
2	26	Flood 2 photos.	1933
2	26	2nd Street in Wallace, ID	1933
2	26	Nine Mile Creek	1933
2	26	Looking north of Place Creek	December 23, 1933
2	26	Sister's Academy	December 23, 1933
2	26	1st Street	1933
2	26	Damaged home	1933
2	26	West Wallace	1933
2	26	One mile west of Wallace	1933
2	26	Looking west from Cottage Grove in Wallace	1933
2	26	One mile west of Wallace 2 copies.	1933
2	26	Flood west of Wallace 2 copies.	1933
2	26	Cypress Street	1933
		W.P.A. - Unit 8 & 1, W.P. 1727	May 23, 1940
Box	Folder
2	27	Big Creek 3 photos.	May 23, 1940
2	27	Kellogg East 3 photos.	May 23, 1940
2	27	Milo Creek 3 photos.	May 23, 1940

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Flood Damage
Flood control
Floods
Idaho. Emergency Relief Administration
United States. Work Projects Administration

Geographical Names

Shoshone County (Idaho)

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